and of promoting charity and union among all classes of Christians in this Diocese. In answer to the circular letter which I afterwards sent to the Rural Deans on the subject, I received assurances of subscription and support, sufficient to induce me to propose that the meeting held here on Wednesday October 10, should form the basis of a Society for promoting Christian Knowledge and Church Union in the Diocese of St. David's."

The particular objects of this Society, proposed in my charge and circular letter, are

I. To distribute Bibles, common-prayer books, and small religious tracts, in Welsh and English, among the poor, especially such tracts as are recommended by the "London Society for promoting Christian Knowledge."

II. To establish libraries for the use of the clergy of the diocese;

III. To facilitate the means of education to young men intended for the ministry of the church of England in this diocese, who are educated in the diocese;

IV. To encourage the establishing of English schools for the benefit of the poor; and

ь V. To promote the institution of Sunday schools. What was proposed to you in this general way, I will now detail more particularly.

1. Towards the first object of the society, much, I know, has been done by some liberal individuals in circulating largely among their parishioners Bibles, common-prayer books, and religious tracts. The design of the society, in this its first object, is to enable other well-disposed individuals to do the same by their parishioners, who have not the same pecuniary means.

2. The second object of the society is to establish libraries for the use of the clergy of the diocese. Two of the five counties belonging to this diocese are already well provided with libraries, by the liberaltiy of Dr. Bray's associates, viz. Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire. Radnorshire and Brecon have never had the advantage of any parochial or lending library. In Pembrokeshire very few libraries have been established; and of those few, I am sorry to find the remains are very inconsiderable. The purpose of the second object of the society is there fore, to promote the establishment of libraries in those parts of the diocese where they have not yet been established; and to give publicity and security to those which

have been established. In furtherance of this object, it may be sufficient to begin with purchasing a few standard books, to be confined to the respective deaneries; and to print catalogues of the libraries which already exist in the diocese.

C.

3. The third object is to facilitate the means of education to young men intended for the ministry of the church of England in this diocese, who are educated in the diocese." The principal schools in the diocese, under proper regulations and with appropriate methods of study, are abundantly sufficient for the elementary part of clerical education. But it would be very beneficial to the church, if young men intended for the ministry, who are precluded the advantages of an university education, were enabled to employ their time in strictly professional studies, during the four years preceding their ordination. Too often are they obliged by necessity to undertake the humblest offices of tuition, before they have finished their own education. It is obvious how little opportunity there is in such situations to make much advancement in the knowledge of their future profession. The loss of St. Mary's College at St. David's, and of the colleges at Abergwilly and Llandewi Brefi, was a great deduction from the religious establishment of this diocese, and has been very ill compensated by the collegiate institution at Brecon, It would have been fortunate for the unity of the church in this part of the kingdom, if the three colleges before mentioned in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Cardiganshire, instead of being dissolved, had been reformed and enlarged on Protestant principles. It would be very desirable (if it were in our power) to supply these losses by at least some one establishment of appropriate education for the ministry in the church of England. An establishment of this kind, I have been informed, was projected not long since at Carmarthen, and some liberal offers made towards it.-I cannot help thinking that a much fitter situation for the purpose might be found than a populous county town.-But for the support of such an establishment, much ampler funds are requisite than are necessary to the views of this society, and to our present undertaking. I will, however, take some future, and not very distant opportunity of cont ferring with you on the means of forming such an esta blishment. tand

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For the present, if this object of the society ("to faciVol. IX. Churchm. Mag. July, 1805. litate

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litate the education of young men intended for the ministry of the church of England in this diocese, and edu cated in the diocese,") be approved and sufficiently encouraged, we may be able with very good effect, to assist young students in divinity with books and some pecuniary aid. For the accomplishment of this object, I earnestly recommend that every new incumbent may contribute the tenth part of one year's income of his benefice; and that the benefaction be payable at the end of the first year of his incumbency. And I trust that such a contribution from the patrimony of the church towards the better support of the household of faith, will not be thought bur, densome by any sincere friend to the church. To this object I am willing to contribute one hundred and twenty pounds, which is a proportionate part of what I am told is the average income of this see.

4. The fourth object of this society is to encourage the establishing of English schools, for the benefit of the poor. Without a knowledge of the English language, the poor are deprived of many advantageous opportunities of service, of commerce, of religious instruction, and other useful knowledge. With the help of the English language they will acquire a better knowledge of their own; for the two dialects will be more effectually taught, if they are taught by the aid of each other.

5. The fifth object of the society is to assist the institution of Sunday schools. This object we may promote by contributing books, and also premiums for the encou ragement of teachers and scholars. In aid of this object you would perform a very useful service to the church, by using your best endeavours with your parishioners for the building or hiring of an appropriate school-room in each of your respective parishes. The custom of converting churches into school-rooms has very ill consequences. The church can never be kept in that degree of cleanliness and decency, in which it ought. The reverence for the house of God, which grows up with well-disposed persons from their youngest years, must unavoidably be precluded by so improper a custom; and at the same time a foundation is laid for indifference to all places of public worship, (in direct opposition to God's express command, Deut. xii. 13, 14,) and consequently for secession from the lawful ministry of the established church.

I cannot conclude this address without expressing a hope, that the successful establishment of a society for promoting

promoting Christian knowledge and church union in this diocese, will not only answer its several particular purposes, but be productive of the best general result,a spirit of union, and connection, and christian fellowship, which, in this very dilapidated part of the church of England, the diocese of St. David's, is greatly to be desired; not only for the sake of our own people, who cannot but be interested in observing your united efforts in the service of religon and the church; but for the sake also of our Dissenting brethren, who may be induced to think that the good which they may hope for from unauthorised teachers in a state of schism and dissension, may be better attained under a duly appointed ministry; and that schism and dissension do not well consist with a sincere love of Christ, if that love be estimated by a regard for what HE above all things prayed for to his Father, -THE UNITY OF HIS DISCIPLES-in all ages of the church.

I am, Reverend Brethren,

Your faithful Friend and Brother,

T. ST. DAVID'S.

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SELECT THOUGHTS BY BISHOP HALL.

XLIV.

N the waters of life, the divine scriptures, there are shallows and there are deeps; shallows where the Lamb may wade, and deeps where the Elephant may swim: If we may not be wise to distinguish, we may easily miscarry : he that can wade over the ford, cannot swim through the deep; and if he mistake the passage he drowns. What infinite mischief hath arisen to the church of God from the presumption of ignorant and unlettered men, that have taken upon, them to interpret the most obscure scriptures, and pertinaciously defended their own sense? How contrary is this to all practice in whatsoever vocation? In the taylor's trade every man can stitch a seam, but every man cannot cut out a garment: In the sailor's art, every one may be able to pull out a cable, but every one cannot guide the helm: In the physician's profession, every gossip can give some ordinary receipts upon common experience; but to find the nature of the disease, and to prescribe proper remedies from the just grounds of art, is

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proper

proper to the professors of that science; and we think it absurd and dangerous, to allow every ignorant mountebank to practice: In matter of law, every plain countryman knows what belongs to distraining, impounding, replevying; but to give sound counsel to a client in a point of difficulty, to draw firm conveyances, to plead effectually, and to give sound judgment in the hardest cases, is for none but barristers and benchers: and shall we think it safe that, in divinity, which is the mistress of all sciences, and in matters which may concern the eternal safety of the soul, every man should take upon him to shape his own coat, to steer his own way, to give his own dose, to put and adjudge his own case? The old word was, that artists are worthy to be trusted in their own trade: therefore hath God given to men skill in arts and tongues? Wherefore do the aptest wits spend their time and studies from their infancy upon these sacred employments, if men altogether inexpert in all the grounds, both of art and language, can be able to pass as sound a judgment in the depths of theological truths as they? How happy were it if we could all learn (according to that word of the apostle) to keep ourselves within our own line: As Christians, the scriptures are ours; but to use, to enjoy, to read, to hear, to learn, to meditate, to practice; not to interpret according to our private conceit; for this faculty we must look higher: The priest's lips are to preserve knowledge, and they shall seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts*.

XLV.

WHEN we see the year in its prime and pride, decked with beautiful blossoms, and all goodly varieties of flowers, cheered with the musick of birds, and stated in a sweet and moderate temper of heat and cold; how glad we are that we have made so good an exchange for an hard and chilling winter; and how ready we could be to wish that this pleasure and happy season might last all the year long: but herein (were our desires satisfied) we should wish to our own great disadvantage; for if the spring were not followed with an intention of summer's heat, those fruits, whose hopes we see in the bud and flower, could nevercome to any perfection; and even that succeeding fervor, if it should continue long, would be no less prejudicial to the health and life of all creatures; and if there were not a relax